Lincoln's revamped MKZ gets a new look inside and out to go with the new fire in its belly

by
Derek McNaughton | June 15, 2016

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WALLACE, Nova Scotia — Those of us with dads who drove Lincolns will remember the hump — the hump in the trunk. Long a defining element of Lincoln design, the signature arch over the rear deck once housed a spare tire but lasted more than 50 years over several generations of Lincoln. It was as unique to Lincoln’s profile as those rear porthole windows and massive chrome grilles for which the luxury marque was well known and much loved.

Today, that garish past gives way to a something far more sleek and elegant. Today, for the most part, chrome is almost a dirty word. Sure, there’s a signature chrome-toothed grille, centred with a Lincoln star – borrowed from the Continental concept seen last year – and other chrome bits are deployed sparingly here and there. But for 2017, the Lincoln MKZ eschews the drama outside for a calm new face replete with optional LED headlamps to go with some new fire in its belly. Plus, an upgraded interior brings new driving aids and safety features. It’s almost as if the yawns of the last MKZ have floated away.

That’s not to say Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz need to immediately circle the wagons, having already entrenched such deep levels of luxury. But Lincoln is revealing with its revamped MKZ that it’s not merely intent to watch the heavy hitters in the premium midsize sedan segment, but to be part of the game as well.

That’s evident by standard AWD for either of the current trim lines, the upper Reserve and more common Select. A Continental will arrive this fall. The MKZ Hybrid, which starts at the same price as the gas-powered car, only comes as FWD. If those first two trims sound like wine, it’s intentional – part of Lincoln’s way of brand building what it calls “quiet luxury.”

Certainly, Lincoln has nailed the quiet part. Flatten the throttle, and precious little engine noise leaks into the cabin, thanks in part to active noise control and copious insulation. On the highway, even at high speed, there’s not much more than some wind walloping the windscreen. It’s relaxing and can belie the speed at which the car is travelling, especially with “active motion” seats providing a rolling massage for the driver and front passenger.

Handling is decent, the brakes quick to bite and the suspension now fully adjustable, able to transition from normal to sport to comfort. In Sport, the six-speed automatic transmission shifts later in the RPM band and with considerable deliberation. The suspension and steering also tighten, and feedback is respectable. It almost feels, dare I say it … German.

2017 Lincoln MKZ

Perhaps the optional Driver’s Package will deliver real bratwurst with bigger brakes, continuously controlled damping and suspension, and better cornering via torque vectoring (where the rear differential sends power to the wheel with the most traction). It also brings 19-inch wheels, lots of black, multi-contour seats and aluminum pedals.

That package comes on MKZs equipped with Lincoln’s own 3.0-litre V6 — a new twin-turbo engine derived from the 2.7-litre EcoBoost in the F-150 pickup. But engineers have managed to coax 400 horsepower and 400 lb.-ft. of torque from this small displacement V6. Unfortunately, no 3.0-litre models were available on our drive across Nova Scotia.

But here’s the thing: As much as I craved to sample the powerhouse V6, the MKZ’s standard engine — a carryover but retuned 2.0L turbo — behaved so well and spooled out so much fun that few will go pining for more. Lag from the four-cylinder is negligible thanks to the twin-scroll turbo and the torque curve is so broad there’s good power at every step — 275 lb.-ft. as early as 3,000 rpm. At times, it felt just like a V6. The 245-horsepower turbo runs out of breath at higher speeds, of course; but all the way to 100 km/h there’s a delightful symphony of fire going on under that sculpted hood. It’s surprisingly smooth and averaged about 9.0L/100 kilometres under some heavy feet.

Inside, the rich smell of quality leather is the first clue to a step up in materials. The plastic centre console has been replaced with brushed aluminum, and the wood trim is as smart as that on an Audi A7. Lighting is improved and speaker covers are stainless steel mesh. It feels upscale.

2017 Lincoln MKZ

The instrument cluster might still be a work in progress, but the old touch-and-drag controls have thankfully been replaced by real buttons and knobs, with lettering big enough to be read by anyone over 40. Ford’s new Sync 3 infotainment system is vastly superior to its predecessor — the graphics are clear, the response time quick, the navigation intuitive. A Revel audio system comes standard with 14 speakers or an optional 20, however it’s no Bang & Olufsen, JBL or Fender.

Technology also edges up, with aides that will parallel park your MKZ — both in and out — perpendicular assist, pre-collision assist, pedestrian detection and available adaptive cruise that will automatically bring the car to a complete stop if the driver fails to apply brakes in time. The push-button gear shift remains. In back, there’s adequate leg room, but headroom is compromised by the optional, fully retractable panoramic glass roof, which also creates a Camaro-like slit rear view once the glass covers part of the back window. However, the cabin feels lovely with the roof open and lets in lots of light, even closed.

On sale now, the 2017 MKZ starts at $42,000 for the Select and $46,000 for the Reserve plus $1,900 in freight and PDI. Hump not included.